Tesla led the group with a 2% gain while the rest of the names drifted red, so no broad trend today, just Tesla doing its own thing.
Data via Yahoo Finance
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The New York Supreme Court just revived a major underpayment lawsuit against State Farm, questioning how the insurer justifies its rate surveys. Meanwhile, I-CAR is adding diagnostics and blueprinting courses to the 2026 SEMA Show lineup.
New York's Supreme Court brought back a lawsuit alleging State Farm underpaid claims, and the ruling directly challenges how the carrier defends its labor rates. State Farm argued it didn't breach policy terms by using its own rate survey, but the court disagreed. This sets a hard precedent for shops fighting supplement denials based on prevailing rate disputes.
Mark says: Pull this ruling and cite it on every State Farm supplement denial tied to labor rates this month.
I-CAR is rolling out three new hands-on courses for the November SEMA Show: vehicle diagnostics and scan tools, the blueprinting process, and glue pull repair techniques. These are core skill gaps many shops report. Registration is live and seats are filling fast at the Las Vegas show.
Mark says: Sign up your key techs now; diagnostics seats historically sell out three weeks before the show.
3. SCRS adds seats to SEMA education sessions; more I-CAR offerings confirmed
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists expanded seating across all SCRS education programs at the 2026 SEMA Show (Nov. 3-6) after initial sessions filled. I-CAR and TIA programs are also expanded. This is the industry's largest annual training event.
Mark says: Register your team this week if you haven't; seats refilled yesterday and won't last through next Monday.
4. Allstate Auto Lab opens with technician demonstration areas for adjusters
Allstate opened a new lab with dedicated negative-pressure bays where claims specialists can watch repair techs work in real time. The setup is designed to bridge the knowledge gap between insurance and shops on what actual repair processes look like and why they cost what they do. This could shift how Allstate handles supplement denials.
Mark says: Document your process steps and photo-log work phases; adjusters trained this way are more likely to approve fair supplements.
5. IIHS rates cargo vans and work trucks weak on crash avoidance; shops will see claims
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety published its first commercial vehicle crash avoidance ratings. Only one of 11 cargo vans and work pickups tested earned a good rating on vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention. Expect higher claim frequency on these platforms as fleets and contractors choose safer models.
Mark says: Stock your parts bins and calibration schedule for higher-volume Ford Transit and Chevy Silverado work incoming Q1 2027.
Got a State Farm supplement denial on labor rates? Run it through our free Calibration Denial Audit. Upload the denied claim, get an OEM-cited rebuttal in 60 seconds. No pitch, no strings.